मैं कौन हूँ
जानती हूँ
किसी नाम से सीमित नहीं
क्या चाहती हूँ
जानती हूँ
किसी सहारे की ज़रूरत नहीं
किसकी तलाश है
जानती हूँ
में अपने आप में पूरी हूँ, ये मानती हूँ
देवी हूँ, पूजा होती है मेरी
जानती हूँ
पर बस औरत रहना चाहती हूँ
मेरी फ़िक्र है तुम्हें
मैं जानती हूँ
पर अपना ख़्याल खुद रखना जानती हूँ
शक्ति हूँ
सक्षम हूँ
औरत हूँ अपने आप को पहचानती हूँ
Two sachets Poured
Into the frothing cup
The sweet crystals sink
through the froth
Meeting the dark fluid
Melting and mixing
Changing the flavour
Adding sweet
to the waiting bitter
White crystals
pause
in contrast
Of the dark concoction
With the stir
They merge
Both are changing
Sugar and coffee
Not just sweet
Not just bitter
Somewhere in between
There brews the coffee
Morning strikes
Life rises above the clouds
Another day emerges
“Drop everything into the tray, don’t carry anything”, said the heavily accented voice of the CISF guard.
I reluctantly let go of the purse stuffed with random currency notes and some coins too, co-existing with their newer plastic version. I let go of the power to buy.
I dropped the mobile phone after the last quick reply on the WhatsApp chat and the quick refresh on the Instagram feed. I severed the social bind.
I removed my watch, and with that the awareness of time.
I also let go of the card which proved my identity, a piece of paper to prove my existence. I let go of the pretence.
I had let go
I was free.
I stood on the yellow line.
I could safely pass through the portal
There was no fear.
The portal beeped as I crossed. I wondered what had I not let go.
The guard called out sternly once again
“These metal detectors detect your thoughts too, because that’s where you still carry all that you dropped.”
“Free your mind too”
Early morning smells fresh
Curtains flutter gently
Leaves sway merrily
Cold that feels on your skin
I am that breeze
Free to touch
Free to caress
free to Steal the fragrance
the one that carries the whisper
I am that breeze
Beyond the boundaries
Always moving
Swift yet gentle
Unseen yet felt
I am that breeze
Here now
There also
Here, with me
There with you too
I am that breeze
In you
breathing life
In me too
Connected as one
I am that breeze
The touch
From far away
What you felt
On your cheeks
I am that breeze
It never emerged
It was cut to size
In the morning
Like a ritual
Always
This time
It emerged
When we were alone
Like a shadow
Darker
We spent time
Alone and together
It stayed
As a friend
Close
Bit unkempt
Some strands of grey
Whichever way
It still remained
Friend
over the days
It grew
It grew on me too
It was me
New
Days of recluse
were getting over
I had to head back
to the world
Of rules and rituals
real
The beard has no place
It must be cut to size
Like a ritual
Like it had never
emerged
Noise invades
In the silence of mind
Symphony remains
दोस्तों की महफ़िल है
छलकेंगे पैमाने
क़िस्सों का सिलसिला चलेगा
बनेंगे कई फ़साने
वक्त नया है
नए दोस्त, नए याराने हैं
पर जब भी मिलेंगे वो दोस्त
गूंजे वही तराने हैं
कई साल पुरानी बात है
कई साज़ और ताल मिलाने हैं
फिर वहीं से शुरू करेंगे
वही रस्ते वही मोड़ पुराने है
कुछ तो है जो जोड़े रखता है
रिश्ता तो कोई नहीं है
वक़्त और शहर अलैदा सही
दिलों के बीच फ़ासला ज़्यादा नहीं है
दोस्तों की महफ़िल है
छलकेंगे पैमाने
कुछ पहुँचेंगे
किसी के बहाने हैं
तुम वो रात हो
वो नींद हो
तुम वो सुबह हो
तुम यहीं हो
ख़्वाब हो
साँस हो
यहीं मेरे पास
हर पल में हो
वो धुन हो
जिसे गुनगुनाया है
वो याद हो
जिसे मुस्कुराया है
तुम हो वहाँ
जहां मंज़िल है
क़रीब हो, दूर हो
जहां जाना है
मेरा कौन हो
क्या नाम रखूँ
रिश्ता नहीं
मेरी पहचान हो
तुम आज हो
मेरा कल भी
क्या और है मुझमें
मेरा सब कुछ हो
The haze descends
Bright blue dome turns grey
mood shifts grey too
My Tales Within